Rideau Centre Expansion | Completed

[mykl]

Since we're quite off topic now, I feel that the homeless population has really exploded this year. I walked down Rideau today and for about 6 blocks, I was asked for money every 10 feet. Its not a pleasant street to be on due to all the construction, and then you have a constant barrage for money. One lady looked like a nice friendly grandmother until she held out her hand and say "GIVE ME MONEY!" lol

Back to the topic (sort of). I know someone who works at The Bay and was chatting with him the other day. He said their renovations will last until 2017 (Ottawa's new slogan) and that they want the main entrance of the store to become the door closest to Chapters. I think they'll have a tough go moving the entrance considering the current main entrance is (a) known and (b) lined up with the Rideau Centre's main entrance AND acts as a conduit to the market. He said they don't plan to renovate the facade, but I'm praying he's wrong (a person can only know so much). Finally, he said Drake General Store wont be back until Christmas, which I feel is a personal attack because I love that place and it was supposed to reopen this month.

If I see him again, I'll try to find out the plan for the gaping hole where the walkway used to be.

[acottawa]

I'm not sure why cleaning up rideau street is associated with gentrification or driving out low income housing. Significant improvement could be made by enforcing existing bylaws and laws against aggressive panhandling, public urination, littering, selling drugs, public intoxication, etc. Perhaps the city could redirect resources currently wasting their time chasing uber on behalf of the taxi cartel.

Further improvements could be made by getting rid of the taxi stands so there is more room on the street, resurfacing the sidewalks and cleaning the streets more often.

Most low income people want nice streets too.

[1overcosc]

The main solution to all this of course is to get rid of homelessness and extreme poverty--the root of it all.

The adoption of housing-first models, substantial enhancements to the children's aid system being made by the province, improved treatment of mental health conditions, etc. are all starting to attack the problem head on. 10 years from now there will be a lot less homeless on our streets than there are today.

[c_speed3108]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

The main solution to all this of course is to get rid of homelessness and extreme poverty--the root of it all.

The adoption of housing-first models, substantial enhancements to the children's aid system being made by the province, improved treatment of mental health conditions, etc. are all starting to attack the problem head on. 10 years from now there will be a lot less homeless on our streets than there are today.

They have already made huge headway in Ottawa. I read a report a few months back that basically said, while our shelters are still pretty full, we have virtually eliminated people actually sleeping on the streets. I can think of many different vents around the city where 10 years ago I saw people sleeping pretty much every night and now don't remember seeing anyone there for years.

Panhandling is a different problem. A related one, but a different one. Many panhandles are not "homeless"...at least in the usual sense.

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by mac_junkie1

Yup! They look to be on schedule. Can't wait until it's open.

The amount of "people" under that bridge lately have been a little frustrating. I had some homeless guy scream at me at the top of his lungs because I wouldn't give him money... Truly pathetic and he didn't look like he had issues either. Well dressed and clean... And the pamphlet people too.... It's getting out of control.

Rideau Street in general needs a MAJOR cleanup. If this much money went into the mall rehabilitation and the road still looks like that, its all wasted effort. All those "cheap" retailers need to go to a different area. Tims, McDonalds, little convenient store. You've got a Bank, Chapters then HBC then it goes to waste... The street has lost its charm. Can't blame people or the elderly avoiding it. City Council & The BIA need to get together with a proper long term game plan for how they want this main strip of the city to look like in the near future. The removal of the massive planters was a great start, but nothing really has happened since then.

The outside of the mall is looking good. Ogilvy's is getting a lot of progress lately too and the future Shoppers Drug Mart area seems almost complete and just waiting for them to move it. Things are moving quickly. Also the first floor or HBC's renovation is open and looks stunning. What a huge difference it makes. Once they open up the windows too, it'll look even cooler. Good job on their part.

I walked inside the Rideau Centre today. One of the constructions workers left the door open, where the new Shoppers Drug Mart is suppose to be. They did not look almost finished to me. I did not see any shelves where the items are going to be. Can you walk down Rideau Street to look at the future Shoppers Drug Mart. What month is the new Shoppers Drug Mart and LCBO going to open in its new location? Key West is already opened. It is located on the 2nd floor right next to Wireless Wave. I have heard that they are opening to open a Stuart Weitzman store on the third floor this October. It is in the location where Town shoes use to be. A magazine store has opened close to MacKenzie King Street. Do you know when Freshly Squeezed is going to open? I think that it is going in the location where Richtree use to be?

loga0082

[mac_junkie1]

My poor brain trying to make sense of all that lol...

What I meant by "almost done" wasn't the actual moving of merchandise, but more the store itself. The drywall is up and the ceiling I believe is going in. From the outside, you can see the doors and you can look in from Rideau Street from a little distance... Judging by what my "mystery tenant" told me about how they'd be moving into the old shoppers area in feb/march, I would imagine the new one would open in the Fall so work on splitting the old stores can commence. It doesn't need to be announced WAY in advance... It'll probably be a scenario like "old store closes one night and new one opens the following morning". It won't take long to get em up and running.

As for everything else you mentioned, I have no idea, but as Cindy has said, keep watching the updates page to find out more concrete information. Keep your eyes peeled on the mall itself and snoop as much as possible and you'll get more answers beyond that! I know that's what a few of us are doing. Why not... Its fun

Originally Posted by loga0082

I walked inside the Rideau Centre today. One of the constructions workers left the door open, where the new Shoppers Drug Mart is suppose to be. They did not look almost finished to me. I did not see any shelves where the items are going to be. Can you walk down Rideau Street to look at the future Shoppers Drug Mart. What month is the new Shoppers Drug Mart and LCBO going to open in its new location? Key West is already opened. It is located on the 2nd floor right next to Wireless Wave. I have heard that they are opening to open a Stuart Weitzman store on the third floor this October. It is in the location where Town shoes use to be. A magazine store has opened close to MacKenzie King Street. Do you know when Freshly Squeezed is going to open? I think that it is going in the location where Richtree use to be?

loga0082

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by mac_junkie1

My poor brain trying to make sense of all that lol...

What I meant by "almost done" wasn't the actual moving of merchandise, but more the store itself. The drywall is up and the ceiling I believe is going in. From the outside, you can see the doors and you can look in from Rideau Street from a little distance... Judging by what my "mystery tenant" told me about how they'd be moving into the old shoppers area in feb/march, I would imagine the new one would open in the Fall so work on splitting the old stores can commence. It doesn't need to be announced WAY in advance... It'll probably be a scenario like "old store closes one night and new one opens the following morning". It won't take long to get em up and running.

As for everything else you mentioned, I have no idea, but as Cindy has said, keep watching the updates page to find out more concrete information. Keep your eyes peeled on the mall itself and snoop as much as possible and you'll get more answers beyond that! I know that's what a few of us are doing. Why not... Its fun

I always google the Rideaucentre.net and check the updates. It was updated over a month ago on July 7th. I saw yesterday that the Key West store is now opened on the 2nd floor beside Wireless Wave. Do you mean that the new Shoppers Drug Mart will open this fall? The one which is coming up next month. I know that Occitane will be located beside the Stuart Weitzman on the 3rd floor. I do check, when the construction workers open the door, because I am curious to see how well they are progressing. The magazine store which they closed down near MacKenzie King bridge is sealed off, but they opened a small magazine store very close to it. You are right! They close down one store and relocate it into another location. The Source use to be on the 3rd floor beside Mrs. Tiggy Winkles, but now it is located on the ground floor close to Blacks. I will keep on checking the updates.

Loga0082

[Admiral Nelson]

Originally Posted by mykl

Back to the topic (sort of). I know someone who works at The Bay and was chatting with him the other day. He said their renovations will last until 2017 (Ottawa's new slogan) and that they want the main entrance of the store to become the door closest to Chapters.

2017 gives reason for optimism as they are giving themselves plenty of time. I wonder if they'll pause during the holidays to offer shoppers an unobstructed shipping experience?

[loga0082]

I have not passed by the Bay. I should take a look at the Bay from the outside to see how the renovations are going.

[mac_junkie1]

Simply walk into the Bay... The first floor is open again and they've moved the cosmetics into the old "friemans" while the current cosmetic area is renovated and modernized... SO LONG HIDEOUS 80s WHITE....

Originally Posted by loga0082

I have not passed by the Bay. I should take a look at the Bay from the outside to see how the renovations are going.

[mac_junkie1]

Its a safe bet to assume that the new Shoppers would open this fall (2015) as the "new tenants" going into the current shoppers space would be slated for a spring 2016 opening... All that seems to be left to do in the old foodcourt is actually move Shoppers into it. It seems like a pretty complete shell now...

Originally Posted by loga0082

I always google the Rideaucentre.net and check the updates. It was updated over a month ago on July 7th. I saw yesterday that the Key West store is now opened on the 2nd floor beside Wireless Wave. Do you mean that the new Shoppers Drug Mart will open this fall? The one which is coming up next month. I know that Occitane will be located beside the Stuart Weitzman on the 3rd floor. I do check, when the construction workers open the door, because I am curious to see how well they are progressing. The magazine store which they closed down near MacKenzie King bridge is sealed off, but they opened a small magazine store very close to it. You are right! They close down one store and relocate it into another location. The Source use to be on the 3rd floor beside Mrs. Tiggy Winkles, but now it is located on the ground floor close to Blacks. I will keep on checking the updates.

Loga0082

[loga0082]

I would love

[loga0082]

I would love to walk all the way down Rideau Street to look at the interior of the future Shoppers Drug Mart from the outside. I cannot walk that far because of all that construction taking place. I find that place on Rideau Street near the construction zone close to the Rideau Centre looks a complete mess. So, I always had to walk inside the Rideau Centre to exit near where the former Exchange pub use to be on Colonel By. I am sure that Rideau Street near the Rideau Centre will look much nicer, once the construction is completed. I walked by the Bay this morning on the 1st floor. It looks much nicer now, after it was renovated.

Loga0082

[mykl]

Originally Posted by mac_junkie1

Simply walk into the Bay... The first floor is open again and they've moved the cosmetics into the old "friemans" while the current cosmetic area is renovated and modernized... SO LONG HIDEOUS 80s WHITE....

Not sure if I'm just wrongly interpreting your comment, but the cosmetics department has moved into its new permanent home. The old cosmetics department will become womens shoes (as a direct response to Nordstrom).

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by mykl

Not sure if I'm just wrongly interpreting your comment, but the cosmetics department has moved into its new permanent home. The old cosmetics department will become womens shoes (as a direct response to Nordstrom).

The Proactiv creams use to be sold on the first floor close to the entrance on Rideau Street near where Maritime travel use to be. On what floor will they locate the Proactiv cream section?

loga0082

[mac_junkie1]

oh ok, that's even better then! its a nice area for them... huge improvements!

Originally Posted by mykl

Not sure if I'm just wrongly interpreting your comment, but the cosmetics department has moved into its new permanent home. The old cosmetics department will become womens shoes (as a direct response to Nordstrom).

[mac_junkie1]

no one know where anything will really be in there yet as they still have over another year of renovations and i'm sure even more departments will be moved around between now and then... keep going thru the store and you'll be able to find your proactiv cream

Originally Posted by loga0082

The Proactiv creams use to be sold on the first floor close to the entrance on Rideau Street near where Maritime travel use to be. On what floor will they locate the Proactiv cream section?

loga0082

[Norman Bates]

I think Proactiv was a lease department - so it's possible that it won't be back.

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by mac_junkie1

no one know where anything will really be in there yet as they still have over another year of renovations and i'm sure even more departments will be moved around between now and then... keep going thru the store and you'll be able to find your proactiv cream

I walk through the Rideau Centre and the Bay and I know that they are always relocating shops which can be very confusing to me sometimes. I will try to look for my Proactiv creams there. St. Laurent sells Proactive creams, so I have been walking there to buy them. It takes me only 20 minutes to walk to St. Laurent Shopping Centre from my house, because I walk down Presland. I do not think that Nordstrom would be the type of shop to sell Proactive creams, but one never knows.

loga0082

[mac_junkie1]

Up where the "theaters" were is a door with a window on it... When I went up there the other day, that "window" was missing, so I peaked my head in to see what was going on as its a pretty huge opening... If you ask me, I have a hunch that they want to still put a theater in there even though at this point in time they don't have a "leasee" for it. Now I know Sylvia has been "inquiring" to Cindy at RC and she's said "we don't know yet", that doesn't mean anything because if something isn't announced, someone ain't gonna be talking stuff...

The space is clean but gutted, but its still "split" to be a theater with the wall to the right just drywall now because it connects to the addition and will all be 1 space when completed... I just find it weird that if they weren't planning on putting theaters in there again, they would've knocked the theater dividers down and called it a day. Something is up... Regardless of what it may be, it is of no interest to me because I don't frequent those kinds of places...

Just thought I'd put my 2 cents on what I saw the other day. The addition is looking good up there. Less then a year now